Michael Jordan’s shoe deal was only one of numerous events that made the summer of ’84 a watershed in the commerce of sport.

Ever since Leinster and Munster teams have been able to meet each other before the All Ireland final, no county has been beaten by a team from the other province as often as Wexford have been by Clare while Dublin have lost all six of their championship games against Cork. 

It’s a long time since a sports event or an athlete has made us feel like Rory McIlroy did on Sunday night.

The greatest pity of all would be if Brian Lohan was to be too proud or stubborn to ignore what has got him this far isn’t enough.

Everywhere he looks they’re there, just as everywhere a Clare person looks they’ll invariably see someone from Limerick and be reminded of the current hurling hierarchy

The signs from the game's past, of a Clare upset win, are positive.

Spectators realise the competitiveness or even integrity of the competition has been diluted.

For the second consecutive Sunday, Tipperary will be outnumbered in the stands and terraces of their own ground.

It hasn’t been lost on America or the world that in recent years that for a good while there the future of the NBA appeared to be international.

It’s an outstanding memory of my sporting career to have been involved in such an epic match. And nothing can take that away. Just dammit, it’s unfortunate we didn’t win it while we were at it.”